According to the Associated Press, some 50 students are set to protest in one of the school's administration buildings to show their discontent with the role the former secretary of state and national security adviser to President George W. Bush played in calling for the Iraq War.

The school's board of governors voted for—and has already paid $35,000 for—Rice to appear at the May 18 ceremony.

School leaders say that they have resisted the calls to "disinvite" Rice, noting that the university welcomes open discourse on controversial topics, AP reports.